Venetian blind guide construction



Oct. 27, 14936. G. w. slsTRuNK VENETIAN BLIND GUIDE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 20, 1,936

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WE'lllilN i Gospel? W. Sist t i application Mayil,

` t CONSTRUC'EHN Coral Gables,

1936, Serial No. 30,6511

2 Claims. (Cl. tEd-M) This invention relates to Venetian blinds and more particularly to means for guiding the ends of the slats in their up and down movement and for retaining them in position when the blind is lowered.

Guide channels have heretofore been used for guiding and holding the ends of the slats, but these channels have usually been fastened against the face of the window opening so that they are exposed to view and present a rather unattractive appearance. llt has also been proposed to embed channels of this general type in the pl-aster of the window opening, but this has proven unsatisfactory for the reason that the plaster along the faces of the channels readily breaks and chips away, presenting an unsightly appearance. v

The primary purpose of my present invention is to provide a channel guide which can be embedded in the plaster so as to be concealed from view and which will not only serve as a guide and a retainer for the pintles which project frorn the ends of the blind slats, but which will also serve to encloseA and protect the adjacent surfaces of the plaster so as to preclude cracking and chipping of the same.

Another purpose of my invention is to provide a guide construction for the slats which will be sturdy and durable and which will also be silent in operation. and will not rattle and be noisy when the blinds are subjected to the wind.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawing, referring to which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a window opening equipped with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the channel guide; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the side channels.

On the drawing reference character 5 indicates generally the buildingstructure surrounding. the Window opening and which customarily comprises, as shown in Fig. 2, uprights 6 covered with metal l'ath 'l and one or more layers of plaster d.

The blind slats are indicated by reference character 9 and are connected, as usual, by tapes il and are equipped with the usual provision for raising and lowering the blind. Provision for guiding the ends of the slats in their up and down movement and for holding them against swinging and flapping is usually made in some form or other. In the present instance the slats are equipped with U-shaped plates or clips l2 embracing the ends of the slats and secured thereto by rivets i3 or other suitable holding means. While in Fig. l each slat is shown as 5 provided at each end with a clip of thisv character, it is sumcient for ordinary purposes that every fourth or even sixth slat be so equipped. Each clip carries a pintle it extending longitudinally from the end of the slat into the guide l0 channel.

The channel itself (indicated by reference character l5) in accordance with my invention is made of metal, preferably a fairly heavy gauge sheet metal, which is formed to channel shape l5 and provided at the open side with inwardly projecting shoulders i6, the margins of the metal beyond the shoulders being extended in opposite directions to provide the flanges il, as shown. A guide so constructed is adapted to be embedded 20 in the plaster t, and usually it is secured in position by screws i8 before the plaster 3 is spread.

If desired, however, a strip or form may be temporarily placed where the channel guide is to be positioned and the plastering completed 25 around the form. Removal of the form will leave a channel in which the channel guide may be positioned later and secured by the screws. In either event it will be observed that the flanges l'l overlie the face of the plaster adja- 30 cent the channel and adequately protect the same so that it -will neither crack nor chip off around the channel. The shoulders it form a restricted throat at the open side of the channel which precludes displacement or withdrawal 35 of the guide rollers i9 with which the pintles I4 are equipped. These rollers are adapted to have a traveling fit in the channel and to prevent noise or rattling they may be made of suitable resilient composition or of harder ma- 40 terial surrounded with a resilient tire, as indicated in dotted lines on the drawing. y

When assembled as above indicated the rollers will travel freely and quietly up and down the guides, and the guides will prevent displacement 45 of the rollers through the guide throat while the flanges l'l afford protection for the plaster surfaces so as to prevent cracking and chipping.

It is believed that my invention and its inherent advantages will be fully appreciated from the 50 foregoing without further description, and it should be manifest that the structural details shown and described are capable of considerable modification and variation without departing from the essence of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a Venetian blind construction, a Wall opening surrounded by a plaster surface, opposed channel guides embedded in said plaster wall on opposite sides of said opening, oppositely extending protecting anges carried by said channel guides and overlying and protecting the face of the plaster in proximity to the guides, means cooperating with said channel guides positioned below the plaster surface for securing said channel guides in place, a plurality of slats interconnected to form the blind, said slats having a length such that their ends terminate adjacent the plaster surface at the sides of said Wall opening, pintles projecting from certain of said slats into said guides, and anti-friction means on said pintles adapted to travel in said guides.

2. In combination, a Venetian blind construction, a Wall opening surrounded by a plaster surface, opposed channel guides embedded in said plaster wall on opposite sides of said opening, each of said channel guides being formed of sheet metal bent to provide a bottom web and straight side Walls, each side wall having its free edge bent to form an interiorly extending bead along the open side of the channel and an exterior ange adapted to overlie and protect the adjacent edge of the embedding plaster, means cooperating with said channel guides positioned below the surface of the plaster for securing said channel guides in place, a plurality of slats interconnected to form the blind, said slats having a length such that their ends terminate adjacent the plaster surface at the sides of said wall opening, pintles projecting from certain of said slats into said channel guides, and anti-friction means on said pintles adapted to travel in said guides. 20

GOSPER W. SISTRUNK. 

